Cartoning machine with printer



1955 J. F. CURRIVAN ETAL CARTONING MACHINE WITH PRINTER 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 5, 1949 INVENTORS John F Curr/van Willard Burcheff W a xii/0% Oct. 11, 955 .1. F. CURRIVAN ETAL 2,

CARTONING MACHINE WITH PRINTER Filed April 5, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 John F Curr/van Willard Burchel/ A Homeys Oct. 11, 1955 J, F. CURRIVAN ETAL 2,720,162

CARTONING MACHINE WITH PRINTER INVENTORS John E Curr/van Willard Burchef/ BCJMMX W A liar/lays Oct. 11, 1955 .J. F. CURRIVAN ET AL 2,

CARTONING MACHINE WITH PRINTER Filed April 5, 1949 4.511eets-Sheet 4 we I24 m5 INVE/V TORS John /-T Curr/van Willard Burchef/ Attorneys ag/M9 United States Patent CARTONING MACHING WITH PRINTER John F. Currivan, Dayton, Ohio, and Willard Burchett, Covington,Ky., assignors, by mesne assignments, to Emhart Manufacturing Company, a corporation of Delaware Application April 5, 1949, Serial No. 85,700

2 Claims. (Cl. 101-35) This invention relates to cartoning machines, and in particular to a combined cartoning machineand printing press wherein the press is adapted to print upon flattened cartons as they are delivered singly from a magazine and before they are erected.

The inventionis particularly adapted as an improvement in cartoning machines of the type shown in the United States application of Alexander H. Ross, Serial No. 731,395 filed February 27, 1947, and entitled Cartoning Machine, now matured to Patent No. 2,662,355. In machines of that type, flattened cartons are fed from a magazine onto a transport conveyor where they are erected to rectangular shape, loaded with merchandise, and one or both of their ends closed. On the transport the cartons are moved in a direction transverse to their end openings and the movement is smooth and continuous. They are spaced one from the other along their path of travel, and are moved along that path by fingers that protrude through the supporting surface of the transport, so that until the cartons have been discharged at the end of the transport they are moved therealong at a constant speed.

The magazine holds a vertical stack of flattened cartons from which a feeder, driven in timed relation with the transport removes the cartons one at a time from the botom of the stack, and holds them flattened against a supporting surface while transferring them to the transport for the erection, loading, and closing operations. It is during this period, while the flattened carton is being moved from the magazine to the transport that the machine is adapted, by the substitution of the apparatus hereinafter described for other apparatus, to print upon a top exposed surface of the carton, the desired impression.

It is frequently desirable to print certain information upon the cartons at the time that they are loaded with merchandise. Examples of such information are, the date of expiration of photographic film, or the batch or lot vide new and improved means for evenly distributing ink to the impression roller from the ink supply.

Other objects will become apparent as the description proceeds in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the printer, together with views of parts of the cartoning machine with which it cooperates;

Figure 2 is a front elevation view, partly in section of the printer alone with only a few parts of the cartoning machine being shown;

Figure 3 is a top plan view of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a side elevation of Figure 1, viewed from the left;

Figure 5 is a partial sectional view along the line 55 of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a partial sectional view along the line 66 of Figure 2;

Figure 7 is a partial sectional view along the line 7--7 of Figure 2; A

Figure 8 is a partial sectional view along the line 88 of Figure 2; and

Figure 9 is a sectional view substantially along the line 9-9 of Figure 6, passing through the axes of four of the inking drums.

Referring to the drawings, in Figures 1 and 2 is shown a transport or base casting having side walls 23 and 24 which are connected by an integral bottom wall (not shown). At 25 in Figure l is shown a magazine for a stack of flattened cartons from the bottom of which stack the cartons are removed one by one by a feeder comprising chains 36 and 37 (Figure 2) having upwardly extending fingers 33 and 39 all as described in the aforesaid application Serial No. 731,395.. Figures 2 and 4 show the drive shaft 26 for the feeder chains, this shaft being in turn driven by a connection to the transport which erects and moves the cartons while they are loaded and the flaps closed. In Figure 1 is shown a trailing finger 27 of the transport and at 28 is shown a leading finger which is just completing its curvilinear travel about the transport tail shaft, not shown. The trailing finger 27 is one of a pair that are pushing an erected carton to the left, the trailing side flap 29 being substannumber of some particular products, etc., which dates should not be printed on the carton together with the or advertising at the time the cartons are made, because it cannot be known with certainty when the cartons will be filled with merchandise.

The cartoning machine shown and described in the aforesaid application is particularly constructed so as to be adjustable to handle cartons of various dimensions and wall thicknesses and for that reason the mechanism for printing must also be capable of adjustment so that it can be used with cartons of various sizes within the It is another important object of the invention to proi tially the only part of the carton 30 that is visible in Figure l. The next carton 31 is still in flattened condition, just behind the leading finger 28, and is just about to be erected by being squeezed against finger 28 by the next pair of trailing fingers when they round the tail shaft and commence to protrude upwardly above the top surfaces of the table plates 34 and 35 (Figure 2) which are secured to the top of the transport casting to provide a supporting surface for the cartons, all as described in the aforesaid application 731,395.

It is during the period when the cartons are still flat, and moving from the magazine 25 under the influence of the feeder and towards the fingers on the transport that the printed impressions are made on them by the printer.

A frame which carries the printer has a pair of side walls 42 and 43 resting upon the tops of the transport side walls 23 and 24, and connected at their tops by a shelf 44 rigidly connected to the walls by screws 45. It is required to be able to adjust the height of the printing impression roller which, as will be described, is carried by the aforesaid frame. Such adjustment is necessary because of the various wall thicknesses of the carton that may be handled by the cartoning machine, it being remembered that the printing roller prints upon a flattened carton so that there is always a double wall thickness between the roller and the support over which the flattened cartons are traveling.

Referring to Figure 4, the wall 42 is provided with .rear and forward bored holes 46 and 47. The rear hole 46 is fitted with a pin 48 which is vertically slidable therein and the upper end 49 of which is cut at an angle of 45 degrees facing the front of the wall. A screw 50 is positioned horizontally in the wall 42 with its head at the forward edge thereof. The inner end 51 of the screw is conical at a slope corresponding to the 4.5 degree angle of the top 49 of the pin 48. Thus as the screw is threaded into the wall its conical end 51 will push the pin 48 downwardly so that it will protrude beyond the bottom of the wall 42 to raise, its rear end. A similarly mounted pin 52 in the forward bored hole 47 is adjusted by a similar conical ended screw 53. The other wall 43 has similar pins which are adjusted by screws 54 and 55 (Figure 2). Thus in the lowest position of the printer frame its walls 42 and 43 rest, directly upon the transport casting side 3 Walls 23. and 24, but when it, is raisedthe vertically movable pins 48 and 52 etc. form legs which support the frame.

The frame is rigidly secured to the transport castingby a pair of tie bars 59. and 60' (Figure 2) which lie adjacent the inner sides of the frame side walls 42 and 43. These tie bars are secured to the. transport casting before the printer frame is placed thereon, the tie bars being threaded onto studs 61 and 62 (Figure 2) mounted in the top flanges 65 and 66 of the transport casting by rotating them. Tie bar 59 is also shown in section in Figure 5. Securing of the printer frame to. the tie bars is by means of screws 67 and 68 passing through the, shelf 44 and threaded into the tops of the tie bars. Thus after the height of the printer frame has been adjusted by means of the pins in the bottom of its side walls 42' and 43 it is rigidly secured in position by tightening screws 67 and 68. In the drawings the printer frame is in its lowest position.

Referring to Figures 2, and 3, the feeder drive shaft 26 protrudes through an opening 69 in the wall 24 of the transport casting and its outer end is journalled in a bearing assembly 72 mounted in a, bracket 73 carried by a cover plate 74 secured over the opening 69 as by screws 75. A sprocket 76 is keyed to the shaft 26, and as best shown in Figure 4, a chain 77 passes over this sprocket and drives. shafts 78 and 79 as well as short shaft 82 by means of sprockets 83, 84 and 85 respectively, which are keyed to these shafts. Since shaft 26 rotates clockwise in Figure 4 it will be apparent that shaft 7 8. rotates counter-clockwise so that it will drive the printing drum 86 (Figures 1 and 2) in the proper direction and at the proper speed to print upon the flattened cartons as they move from the magazine to the transport. In Figure 1 the printing drum 86 is just about to begin to print upon a carton 87 which is passing beneath it, the printing drum being of such diameter that it carries two diametrically spaced series of type, and makes a printed. impression upon a moving carton: for each half revolution of the drum. The specific construction, of the printing drum is unimportant since any suitable drum obtainable on the market may beused, preferably one having interchangeable; type, In the one illustrated herein. the drum has a pair of diametrically spacedi transverse. slots 88 (only one being shown in Figure 1) in which are arranged the removable type elements 89 which are secured therein by holding pins 92 passing, throughv end; plate 93, through the type elements, and. threaded into the opposite end plate 94., The shaft .78; journalled in a bearing 9.5. in a center wall member 9.6 of the printer frame, said center wall being; rigidly secured to2 shelf 4.4 byscrews 97, only one of which is shown in Figure 2, and also in a bearing,.not shown, in the Wall 42. Theprint-ing drum 86 is; mounted on the end of the-shaft 78 protruding beyond the center wallf 96', being: keyed thereto by akey 98; and a collar 99 secured to the shaft byset screws or the like.

The sprocket on shaft 78;. is in twoportions comprising a. toothed portion 83 that is angular-1y adjustable upon a hub. 102 which is keyed to the shaft. Screws 103 (Figure 4) pass through circular slots in portion 83 and are threaded into the hub 102, so that the position of the printing drum on shaft 78 can be shifted with respect to the toothed portion 83 to assure that the printed impression is made upon the desired place on the carton. Slack in the chain 77 is taken up by an idler sprocket 104 (Figure 4) on one end of a bell crank 105 pivoted on the wall 24' at 106', and urged in a counter-clockwise direction by a spring 107.

The mechanism for applying ink to the type elements on the printing drum and for assuring even distribution thereon will now be described.

Mounted substantially midpoint and on top of the shelf 44' is a bracket designated generally by the reference number 108, secured to the shelf by screws 109 (Figure 7). On one side (Figures 3 and 4) it has a pair of coplanar ears 111 and 112 extending forwardly and upwardly respectively. At its other, end it has a pair of matching forwardly and upwardly extending ears 113 and 14 (Figure 3) but they are not coplanar with each other, theforwardly extending ear 113 being farther from ear 111 than the upwardly extending ear 114 is from ear. 112. A shaft 115 isv suspended by the ears 112 and 114, while a shaft 116 is. suspended by the ears I11 and 113. Rotatably supported by the shaft 115 is an ink reservoir 117 (Figure 7) having a well 118 terminating in a forward transverse lip 119. the topedge of which is higher than the bottom of well 118. The angular position of the reservoir about shaft 115 is controlled by a cap screw 122 (Figure 7) which passes through a hole. in the rear portion of the reservoir and is threaded into the shelf 44. A spring 123 between the shelf 44 and the reservoir urges the reservoir counter-clockwise about its shaft 115,. sothat the elevation of the lip. 119 of the. well is adjusted by turning the screw. 122.

A fountain roller 124: of metal or the like is journalled for rotation on the shaft 116 with its periphery clearing the transverse lip 119 of the ink well as best shown in Figure 7. Clearance between the lip and. the roller is adjusted by turning thev cap screw 122. The roller has an integral ratchet 125 (Figure 8) by which the roller is intermittently rotated, in a. manner to be described.

A rotary shaft 126 is journalled in a pairof bearing blocks 127 and 128 secured to the top of the shelf 44. At its left end as viewed in Figure 2 it has keyed thereto a gear 129 that is driven by a mating gear 132 keyed to the short shaft 82 mounted in bearings in a bracket secured to the side Wall 24 by screws or'the like. At its other end the shaft 126 has keyed thereto a crank arm 133v (Figure 3) having an integral crank pin 134. Separated from the crank arm by a spacing washer 135, a connecting rod 136 is journalled on the crank pin 134. The other end of the rod 136 is connected by a pin 137 (Figures, 1,. 3 and: 6) to one arm 13.8 of a bell crank which is pivoted on a shaft 139 rotatably mounted in bearing blocks 142 and 143 secured to the shelf 44. The other arm 1.44: of the bell crank carries a hollow cylindrical housing 145 (Figure 9) which houses a pair of spaced ball bearing assemblies 146 and 147 separated by a spacer 1.48, the bearing assemblies being held within the housing as by a press fit therein. At its closed end the housing 145 has a stem 149 terminating in a threaded portion 152, the stem being seated in an opening in the outer end of bell crank arm 144 and secured. in position by a nut 153. The stem 149 and coaxial threaded portion 152 are slightly offset from the axis of the drum 145 so that the axis of the drum can be moved about the axis of the stem 149'. This permits adjustment of thepressure with which the transfer roller contacts both the fountain roller 124, and the next orfollowing first distributing roller, to be described. A shaft 154 (Figure 9) has a press fit in the inner races of the bearing assemblies 146 and 147, and a cylindrical rubber transfer roller 155 is molded on the shaft 154., its, length beingjusta little greater than that of the fountain roller 124:- The. crank pin 134' on the shaft 126 oscillates the bellcra nk 13s 144 through a cycle wherein the transfer roller 155 contacts the fountain roller 124, then moves down to the dot-dash position 155a of Figure 6, and back to contact with the fountain roller. When in the position at 155a the transfer roller 155 contacts the surface of a first distributing or oscilatory roller 156 (Figures 2, 6 and 9) which is also of rubber.

The pin 137 through the upper end of the connecting rod 136 also passes through one end of a link 157 which is connected at its other end to a lever 158 by a pin 159. The other end of lever 158 is pivotallymounted on the shaft 116 which journals the fountainroller 124. A ratchet pawl 162 is pivotally attached to the lever 158 substantially at its mid length, by a pin 163. Thus for each revolution of the power driven shaft 126, the crank pin 134 thereon will rotate the fountain roller 124 through a portion of a revolution, as well as moving the transfer roller through a cycle wherein it first contacts the fountain roller 124 and then the first distributing or oscillatory roller 156. Thus a freshly inked portionof the fountain roller is presented to a new peripheral portion of the transfer roller every time contact between them is made, the transfer roller being rotated through a part of a revolution by contact with the constantly rotating first distributing or oscillatory roller 156 every time it contacts it, as will be apparent. The phase relationship of the contacts of the transfer roller 155 with the oscillatory roller 156 is controlled by their respective diameters, the speed of rotation of the oscillatory roller, and the swings of the bell crank 138-144 so that ink is applied to the entire periphery of the oscillatory roller 156 once in slightly more than two revolutions of this roller, so that each application of ink to its surface is at a pointslightly spaced from place where the last previous application was made. This increases the effectiveness of the oscillatory roller in the even application of ink to the type elements on the printing drum 86.

The construction of the oscillatory roller 156 is best shown in Figure 9. A shaft 164 is fixedly mounted in the center wall 96 by a pair of nuts 165 which clamp the wall between themselves and a shoulder 166 on the shaft. An oilless bearing sleeve .167 is journalled on the shaft 164 and is press fitted into a metal sleeve 168 to the surface of which the oscillatoryrubber roller 156 is molded or cemented. The left end (in Figure 9) .of the sleeve 168 is shaped to form an annular cam surface having a high point 169 and a low point 170 which are 180 degrees apart. The other end of the sleeve is also shaped to form a similar cam surface having a high point 173 and a low point 174, these high and low points being 180 degrees or diametrically angularly spaced from the corresponding high and low points 169 and 170 on the other end of the sleeve. The rubber roller covering 156 is only of such length as to extend between the low points of the cams on the sleeve 168. A pair of coplanar pins 175 and 176 are fixed in the shaft 164, protruding diametrically therefrom for mounting a pairof ball bearing assemblies 177 and 178 respectively. The pins are so spaced axially of the shaft 164, and the outer diameters of the outer races of the bearing assemblies are such that each of these outer races contacts the annular cam surface on one end of the metal sleeve 168. The result is that when the roller 156 is rotated through one revolution it will simultaneously move axially in one direction to the end of its stroke, and then back again, repeating these axial oscillations as long as it is rotated, which rotation results from its continuous contact with the next following or second distributing roller 179. The length of these strokes is such that the oscillatory roller 156 will contact the longer transfer roller 155 from end to end during each stroke. The diameters of rollers 155 and 156 are different so that different portions of their peripheries will contact each other from one revolution to the next. In order to keep ink out of the ball bearing assemblies 177 and 178,.collars 182 and 183 are mounted on the outside of the sleeve 168 and abutting the ends of the rubber roller 156, the collars being secured to the sleeve by pins or screws 184 and 185 respectively. 6

The aforesaid second distributing roller 179 is of metal or the like and is mounted with a press fit on an oilless sleeve bearing 186 (Figure 9) which is journalled for rotation on a shaft 187 which has a left end portion 188 mounted in the center wall 96, being adjustably fixed therein by the nuts 189 and an annular shoulder 192. The portion 188 is not coaxial with the shaft 187, but is slightly offset therefrom, so that the position of the. second distributing roller 179 with respect to the other rollers can be adjusted by rotating the portion 188 in the center wall 96. The roller 179 is retained on the shaft by a nut 193. p l

The rubber inking roller 194 is molded or cemented to a central metallic sleeve 195 which is mounted on the right hand end of drive shaft 79 and fixed against rotation with respect thereto by a key 197. The function of the roller 194 is to apply ink to the type elements 89 of the printing drum 86, and also to drive, through frictional engagement of their surfaces, the previously described rollers 179, 156, and 155. The drive shaft 79 is mounted in the following manner.

A cylindrical housing 198 is mounted for free rotation in aligned through bores 199 and 200 (Figure 1) in the printing frame side wall 42 and center wall 96. At its left end (Figure 2) it has a radial flange 203 which locates the axial position of the housing in the aforesaid bores. A pair of screws 204 and 285 (Figure 4) are threaded into the side wall 42 and clamp a pair of washers 286 and 207 respectively against the radial flange 203, thus securing the housing 198 fixedly in place and in any selected angular position. The housing has a central through bore 208 which, as best shown in Figure 5, is not coaxial with its outer cylindrical surface. The drive shaft '79 passes through this central bore, being journalled for rotation therein by a pair of spaced ball hearing assemblies 209 and 210 (Figure 2) the outer races of which have a press fit in the bore 208, and the axial spacing of which is determined by shoulders at the ends of an enlarged portion 213 of the shaft 79, which shoulders abut the inner races of the bearing assemblies. It will be apparent therefore that the shaft 79 is mounted for rotation within the housing 198 and that its axis can be shifted within limits in order to secure proper contact with the second distributing roller 179 and with the printing drum 86. The shaft 79 is driven by means of the sprocket 84 and chain 77 at a speed such that the periphery of the inking roller 194 moves at the same speed as that of the printing drum 86 so that there is only rolling contact therebetween.

Shown in Figures 1, 2 and 6 is a rotating .brush 221 which: is carried by a shaft 222 journalled for rotation in the printing frame side wall 42 by a bearing block 220 and also journalled in the center wall 96. The brush is so located that it brushes the type elements 89 to remove dirt or lint etc. from them after they have made a printed impression and before they again contact the inking roller 194. The direction of rotation of the brush 221 is opposite to that of the printing drum 86 and its speed is such that there is a brushing action and not a mere rolling action on the type elements. The shaft 222 has a rubber covered wheel 223 keyed thereto, which is frictionally driven by a similar rubber covered wheel 224 keyed to the shaft 78 which carries the printing drum 86.

Means are provided to hold the cartons flattened against the top surfaces of the table plates 34 and 35 as they are moving from the magazine to the transport, during which time the printing operation takes place. These means take the form of a pair of parallel fiat leaf type springs 215 and 216 (Figures 1 and 2) which are secured at their rear ends to a cross bar 217. This cross bar is affixed at-its mid-point to a vertical bar 218 (Figure 1) 7 that is mounted in the magazine 25. As described in detail in the aforesaid application Serial No. 731,395 the lower end of the vertical bar 218 is spaced above the table plates 34 and 35 by a distance sufficient to allow only the lowermost flattened carton in the stack of cartons in the magazine to be removed from the stack by the feeder, and the bar is vertically adjustable to take care of cartons of different wall thicknesses. Thus if the vertical bar 218 is adjusted to accommodate cartons of a new wall thickness, the springs 215 and '216, being carried thereby, will be simultaneously adjusted. The springs are stiff enough to hold the cartons flattened against the table plates and their free forward ends release the cartons before they come under the influence of the carton erecting mechanism of the transport, which includes the fingers 27 and 28 of Figure 1.

The invention prov-ides means for printing upon the cartons while they are still in their flattened condition. There is no interruption to their continuous movement from the magazine to the transport, and the printer does not in anyway interfere with the action of the feeder on the transport. The printing is applied in a position where it will not *bessubsequently smeared by contact with any of the parts of the transport. The flop weight 219 (Figure 1) in transverse section has the form of an inverted channel, as disclosed in the application Serial No. 731,395., so that the printing will pass between its depending side legs, one of which is identified by the number 226 in Figure 1.

The printing drum moves at the same speed as the flattened cartons so that there is no smearing of the printed impression, it being driven by the drive shaft of the carton feeder. Assurance of even inking on the type of the printing drum is given by the number of rollers which are arranged between the ink well and the final inking drum, the speeds of the various distributing rollers, the axial movements of the first distributing roller, and the movements of the transfer roller being so coordinated as to distribute the ink evenly on the final inking roller. All of the rollers are adjustable to provide the proper degree of contact the-rebetween, and the entire printing frame may be adjusted in accordance with the wall thickness of the cartons which receive the printing.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiment is therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by United States Letters Patent is:

1 a cartoning machine in which a series of collapsible cartons are fed singly at a uniform rate in their collapsed condition by longitudinally moving feeder fingers along a translatory path over a planar support surface from a supply magazine to a carton erecting transport, a unitary printer subassembly adapted to be mounted in a vertically adjustable position above said support surface intermediate said magazine and said erecting transport to accommodate series of collapsed cartons of various thicknesses and driven in time relation with the movement of said feeder fingers to print upon each successive collapsed carton of such a series as it is fed to said erecting transport, said printer subassembly comprising a frame comprisingla pair of spaced rigidly interconnected upstanding side walls, said frame being mounted on said support surface at a position to straddle the path of carton movement; a printing drum mounted for rotation in said frame about an axis fixed relative thereto and spaced above and parallel to said surface and extending normal to the path of carton movement for printing corn tactwith the upper face of each collapsed carton of such a series while it is moved over said surface in a flattened condition, means for driving said drum at a peripheral speed equal to the speed of the cartons as they .move'over said surface, means ion'said frame .and actuated by said driving means for applying ink to said printing drum, means on the :side walls of said frame for selectively moving said frame toward or away from said support surface in a substantially translatory path to shift the position of said printing drum and ink applying means to accommodate: series of flattened cartons of various thicknesses without varying the registration of the printed image rela tive thereto, and means including an upstanding Wall attached at its lower end to said support surface adjacent each of said side walls of said frame and adapted to be rigidly clamped :to said frame, said means being operable to clamp :said frame to said support surface to prevent movement thereof from the selected position.

2. The printer subassembly defined in claim 1 wherein said means for moving said frame comprises a plurality of legs mounted in said frame side walls for vertical movement relative thereto {to positions protruding from the bottom thereof in engagement with said support surface andmeans operative to control :the extent of protrusion of said legs.

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